6 August 2018 ISSUE 578
Minority Ethnic Matters Overview
MEMO is produced by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities in partnership with BEMIS - empowering Scotland's ethnic and cultural
Supported by minority communities. It provides an overview of information of interest to minority ethnic communities in Scotland, including parliamentary activity at Holyrood and Westminster, new publications, consultations,
forthcoming conferences and news reports.
Contents Immigration and Asylum Other News Equality Bills in Progress Racism, Religious Hatred, and Discrimination Consultations Other Scottish Parliament and Government Job Opportunities Other UK Parliament and Government Funding Opportunities New Publications Events, Conferences, and Training Useful Links
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The Scottish Parliament is in recess until 3 September 2018. The UK Parliament will be in recess from 25 July until 5 September, and again from 14 September to 9 October. During this time MEMO will be issued on 27 August, 6 and 17 September, and 3 October.
Immigration and Asylum
Scottish Parliament Motions S5M-13339 Gordon MacDonald (SNP): Young Syrian Refugees Settle Better in Scotland – That the Parliament welcomes reports that young Syrian refugees are “better supported” in Scotland than in England; understands that more than 12 million people are thought to have fled their homes since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011; acknowledges that UK ministers have been urged to be "more generous" after research found those who had been resettled in Scotland were happier and much better supported compared with those in England; recognises that experts from the University of Glasgow compared the treatment of Syrian refugees aged between 18 and 32 in the Lebanon, Greece and the UK, and also investigated the difference in support provided north and
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south of the UK border as part of the project called Building a New Life in Britain; welcomes reports that 81% of Syrian refugees in Scotland intend to remain in the country, compared with 65% of those in England; considers that Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers; supports the Scottish Government’s position that it is a human right to be able to seek asylum in another country; believes that the Scottish Government’s New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, endorsed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, sets out a bold vision for how Scotland can further welcome and support people to rebuild their lives from the day they arrive, and considers that, if the aim of refugee policy is to facilitate settlement, the support offered to refugees in Scotland should be emulated across the UK. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5M-13339
S5M-13354 Patrick Harvie (Green): Destitution of Asylum Seekers – That the Parliament condemns the reported intention of Serco to carry out what it considers mass evictions of asylum seekers in Glasgow, which it understands will make up to 300 people homeless and destitute; further understands that neither Glasgow City Council nor the voluntary sector appear to have been given advance notice of the intention to take this action, with the effect that emergency measures have not been put in place to protect people's safety and wellbeing; believes that the UK Government's asylum system uses destitution and homelessness as deliberate objectives of its policy; considers that both the policy and the actions of private sector organisations that carry it out are reprehensible; recognises what it sees as the extraordinary efforts made by voluntary organisations, church and community groups, and many individuals in Scotland, to support people who have been forced into destitution by the asylum system, and urges the Scottish Government to explore all possible emergency actions that it can take to support both the people directly affected by this humanitarian abuse and the organisations that work with them. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5M-13354
S5M-13399 Sandra White (SNP): Glasgow City Council, Refugees Are Welcome Here – That the Parliament expresses its support for Glasgow City Council in its setting up of a taskforce in a bid to assist 300 asylum seekers facing eviction from accommodation provided under the UK Government’s Compass contract; acknowledges that Glasgow has always been, and continues to be, a willing and active partner in the UK’s asylum dispersal scheme; understands that, despite having one of the largest populations of asylum seekers in the UK, supporting 10% of the UK asylum population, Glasgow receives no funding from the UK Government’s dispersal programme; welcomes the Scottish Government’s condemnation of this policy and its calls for the UK Government to end the system of asylum accommodation contracts in the private sector currently being tendered, and to provide funding direct to local authorities for accommodation and advice for asylum seekers; understands that, as housing is provided to asylum seekers under reserved immigration legislation, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government are legally prevented from directly housing failed asylum seekers; states its solidarity with the hundreds of demonstrators who protested in Glasgow against these plans and considers that this was a reflection of the widespread opposition from local residents to this policy; supports the third sector and communities in assisting asylum seekers, and accepts that Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 provides protection for an individual's home, prevents public authorities inhibiting individuals from entering or living in their home and provides the right for individuals to enjoy their home peacefully without intrusion by a public authority. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5M-13399
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UK Parliament Debates (House of Commons) Immigration Detention: Shaw Review https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-24/debates/03FA26A3-90A1-4E58- 826A-1341ABA6D146/ImmigrationDetentionShawReview
(House of Lords) Immigration Detention: Shaw Review https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-07-24/debates/B6D7044C-5250-42A3-9BB9- AADD276B6967/ImmigrationDetentionShawReview
Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-07-24/debates/52E598C9-7B25-4F97-B561- B8B4EB7BEF2C/Immigration(ProvisionOfPhysicalData)(Amendment)(EUExit)Regulations2018
UK Parliament, House of Commons Written Answers British Nationality Afzal Khan (Labour) [165709] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average cost was of processing (a) a child's citizenship application, (b) an adult's citizenship application; and how many applications for children's citizenship his Department received in 2017. Reply form Caroline Nokes: The Home Office published a list of Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) application fees and estimated unit costs for 2017/18. The fees and cost to process applications for citizenship applications can be found on page 16 of the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attac hment_data/file/606616/Unit_cost_table_2017.pdf The information available on the numbers of applications for British citizenship broken down by naturalisation and registration is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Citizenship volume table cz_01_q at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending- march-2018/list-of-tables#citizenship. The total number of applications for registration made in 2017 totals 41,905. Applications for citizenship as minor children represent the large majority of those counted in the category ‘Applications for registration’. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165709/
Immigrants: Health Services Virendra Sharma (Labour) [166130] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to increase the immigration health surcharge. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Government plans to double the Immigration Health Surcharge later this year, subject to Parliamentary approval. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166130/
Immigration: Young People Virendra Sharma (Labour) [165522] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time taken was for young migrants on limited leave to remain to achieve settled status in the most recent period for which figures are available. Reply from Caroline Nokes; The length of time required before settled status can be achieved by young migrants on limited leave to remain will vary according to the basis on which that leave was given, and is set ou t in the Immigration
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Rules. As these are fixed periods set out in the legislation, there are no average periods as such. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165522/
Immigration: Young People Virendra Sharma (Labour) [165523] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the length of time required for settled status for young migrants on limited leave to remain. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The length of time it takes for applicants to be entitled to settlement will depend on which basis they were originally granted leave to enter or remain. This is clearly stated in the relevant policy guidance. The Secretary of State has discretion to grant leave outside of the rules and Indefinite Leave to Remain in exceptional or compelling circumstances, including cases involving the best interests of a child. Our immigration policy is regularly reviewed. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165523/
Immigrants: Health Services Virendra Sharma (Labour) [165524] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what rate the immigration health surcharge has been set in each year since its inception. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Immigration Health Surcharge was introduced on 6 April 2015 and ensures that temporary non-EEA migrants who come to the UK to work, study or join family for more than six months make a financial contribution to the NHS. The surcharge rate has remained at £200 per person per year of leave granted since 2015, with a discounted rate of £150 per person per year for students. The rate for applicants in the Youth Mobility Scheme category was reduced to £150 per year when the general surcharge exemption for Australian and New Zealand nationals was rescinded in 2016. The Government plans to double the surcharge later this year, subject to Parliamentary approval. The surcharge will rise from £200 to £400 per person per year, with the discounted rate for students and the Youth Mobility Scheme increasing from £150 to £300 per person per year. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165524/
Immigration Virendra Sharma (Labour) [165525] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants have been refused limited leave to remain, having previously been granted it for one or more years in each of the last 10 reporting years. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The available published statistics relate to total grants and refusals of extensions (in-country leave to remain), and are published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, extensions tables, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending- march-2018/list-of-tables#extensions https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165525/
Visas Tommy Sheppard (SNP) [165627] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visitor visa applications were received by UK Visas and Immigration in each of the last five years by country; and what proportion of those applications were refused by country.
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Reply from Caroline Nokes: Applications for visit visas are considered against Appendix V of the Immigration Rules and on a case by case basis. Detailed information on how UK Visas and Immigration makes decisions on visitor cases is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-guidance. Information on total entry clearance visas (the majority of which are visitor visas) broken down by nationality and outcome (grants, refusals, withdrawals, lapsed) is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Visas data tables volume 1, table vi_02_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending- march-2018. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165627/
Visas: Applications The following two questions both received the same answer Keith Vaz (Labour) [164274] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants have waited for over a year for their visas applications to be resolved in each year for which data is available. Immigration Keith Vaz (Labour) [164273] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration cases are outstanding for his Department that have not been resolved within the target time. Reply from Caroline Nokes: Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’). https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-16/164274/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-16/164273/
Immigrants: Passports Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru) [164295] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what processes his Department has in place to ensure the timely return of passports and official documentation to people after their immigration status has been decided. Reply from Caroline Nokes: Where a decision is taken to grant leave, documents will be returned in accordance with current processes. These processes act as a checklist to ensure that relevant documents are collected and returned in a timely manner. Home Office officials have worked with Royal Mail to ensure the process to return documents is secure and timely. Section 17 of the Asylum & Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 gives the power to retain documents, such as a passport, where the Secretary of State or an immigration officer suspects a migrant is liable to removal and the retention of the document may facilitate removal. The 2004 Act does not allow for the indefinite retention of documents. Where a person is later granted leave, in whatever capacity, the document must be returned to the holder unless it is a forgery. The Home Office guidance can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attac hment_data/file/640156/Retention-of-documents-v8.0ext.pdf https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-16/164295/
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Migrant Workers: Ophthalmology Peter Grant (SNP) [165097] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will consider applications for optometrists within the sub-category of High Value/Inward Investment in respect of Certificate of Sponsorship allocations under the Tier 2 Visa guidelines. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The high value inward investment provision is designed for businesses which have their headquarters and principal place of business outside of the UK and that are relocating or investing new capital expenditure of £27 million or creating at least 21 new jobs in the UK. Jobs which fall under the provision are exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test and the Tier 2 cap. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-17/165097/
Overseas Students: Immigration The following two questions both received the same answer Steve McCabe (Labour) [165451] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of student finance provision for students who began their university course as an international student but were subsequently granted indefinite leave to remain while still studying. Steve McCabe (Labour) [165452] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will bring forward proposals to enable international students who are granted indefinite leave to remain while undertaking a degree to access student loans. Reply from Sam Gyimah: Students who obtain permanent residence within the first three months of the start of the academic year can apply for student finance for the current academic year and future years, subject to meeting the normal eligibility criteria. Generally, to meet the eligibility requirements for student support, a student should be resident in England, have ‘settled’ status or a recognised connection with the UK and have been a resident of the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) for the three years prior at the start of the course. Residence in the UK and Islands must not have been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165451/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165452/
Undocumented Migrants Afzal Khan (Labour) [165711] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to conduct a public consultation on his Department's hostile environment policies. Reply from Caroline Nokes; We have no plans at this time for a public consultation on the compliant environment policy. Successive Governments have brought forward policies to prevent the misuse of public services and benefits by immigration offenders. Key compliant environment measures, including right to work checks by employers to prevent illegal working and right to rent checks by landlords have been the subject of full public consultations. We conduct impact assessments to fully consider policy objectives, intended effects and the Government’s intervention reasoning. Impact assessments were published for both the 2014 and 2016 Immigration Acts. These can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attac hment_data/file/250069/Overarching_Impact_Assessment_final.PDF
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https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attac hment_data/file/482041/2015-11-30_revised_overarching_IA_-_Lords.pdf https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165711/
Undocumented Migrants: Private Rented Housing Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat) [165447] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions have taken place for offences under the Immigration Act 2014 since the inception of Right to Rent measures in February 2016. Reply from Caroline Nokes: There have been no prosecutions. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165447/
Immigration: Commonwealth David Lammy (Labour) [157619] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-Carribean-born Commonwealth citizens currently have cases with the Commonwealth Taskforce. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The vast majority of applications considered by the Taskforce are concluded within one day and the number of current cases with the Taskforce is subject to change on a daily basis. It would not be cost or resource effective for the Department to provide a running commentary on cases currently with the Taskforce. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-06-26/157619/
Immigration: Caribbean David Lammy (Labour) [136388] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff will be working in the newly established Windrush Generation task force; from which parts of (a) her Department and (b) other Government Departments they have been seconded; and what the timetable is for the task force to complete its work. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The team was initially set up with 20 staff members. The number of staff deployed to the team will be driven by the number of people that contact the Department for help. Additional experienced staff can be deployed from within the Department should the need arise. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-18/136388/
Immigration: Compensation David Lammy (Labour) [160060] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether family members of people affected by the Government's hostile environment immigration policy will be included in the Windrush compensation scheme. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The compensation scheme for those of the Windrush generation that might have been affected is in the process of being established. The call for evidence for that scheme ended on 8 June and the Home Office are now preparing to launch the next stage of consultation, working with affected communities. The scheme will be set up as soon as possible after we have consulted on the design and scope of what should be included. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-03/160060/
Immigration: Windrush Generation The following three questions all received the same answer David Lammy (Labour) [160672] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
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Department, what amount of compensation members of the Windrush generation are planned to be given for legal fees; and whether that compensation will be at a fixed rate. David Lammy (Labour) [160673] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken to ensure that lessons learnt from the roll-out of previous Government compensation schemes will be taken into account in the roll-out of the Windrush compensation scheme. David Lammy (Labour) [160674] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money his Department has provisionally allocated for the Windrush compensation scheme. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Government has committed to establishing a Windrush compensation scheme. We are listening to those affected, including through a recent Call for Evidence, which ended on 8 June. We are using that evidence to inform the scope and design of the scheme, including the kinds of loss for which compensation may be paid, and will launch a public consultation on those details shortly. The Government has emphasised the importance of putting in place a scheme that works, quickly and carefully. As part of that process the Home Office is mindful of relevant guidance from HM Treasury and from the National Audit Office, which draws on the lessons learned from other compensation arrangements. This process will also help us to understand the scope of the scheme and scale of funding required. The Home Office is in discussion with HM Treasury about all budgets, including any provision that is required for the Windrush compensation scheme. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-04/160672/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-04/160673/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-04/160674/
Immigrants: Caribbean Marsha De Cordova (Labour) [139609] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will introduce legislative proposals to ensure the right of the Windrush generation to remain in the UK. Reply from Caroline Nokes: On Thursday 24th May I laid a statutory instrument which came into force on May and will ensure that members of the Windrush generation, their children born in the UK and who arrived in UK as minors, and others who have been in the United Kingdom for a long period of time, will be able to obtain the documents to confirm their status and, in appropriate cases, be able to obtain British citizenship free of charge. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-30/139609/
Immigration: Windrush Generation Vicky Foxcroft (Labour) [165111] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate his Department has made of the length of time the Windrush taskforce will require to determine whether affected individuals should receive compensation. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Government has made it clear we intend to put in place a compensation scheme quickly and carefully to redress what has gone wrong. On 19 July, we launched the Windrush Compensation Consultation. The consultation period will run for 12 weeks ending on 11 October.
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I would encourage people to respond to the consultation, to help inform the design of the scheme. Following consultation, the scheme will open as soon as possible. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-17/165111/
The consultation referred to above can be read at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/windrush-compensation-scheme
Refugees: Eritrea Richard Burden (Labour) [166057] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the yearly variation in the number of applications granted for refugee status from refugees from Eritrea in the last five years. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Government takes its international responsibilities seriously and grants protection to those who qualify. In assessing claims decision makers must still consider the individual facts and merits of a particular case aswell as the objective country information. The table below is taken from published statistics and shows that the grant rate in 2015 and 2016 fell. This was due to a change to the Country Guidance advice over that time. Year Claims Decisions Grants Grant Rate 2013 1387 960 787 82% 2014 3233 2463 2155 87% 2015 3695 3191 1531 48% 2016 2230 1838 1237 67% 2017 1093 1415 1145 80% The full set of published statistics can be found at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2018- data-tables https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166057/
Asylum: Scotland Lesley Laird (Labour) [165700] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people claiming asylum in Scotland have had to wait longer than the Government’s six-month target for a decision on their claims in each of the last three years. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the number of cases where a decision has been made after 6 months. Whilst we can provide data on the current addresses of asylum claimants, data on the place of residence at the time of initial decision could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The latest release of the asylum transparency agenda can be found in table ASY_10 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-may-2018 https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165700/
Asylum: Finance Afzal Khan (Labour) [165712] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what emergency measures his Department has put in place whose application for asylum seekers for asylum support and whose application has been affected by ATLAS IT failures to ensure that such asylum seekers are not left destitute. Reply from Caroline Nokes: This government is committed to ensuring asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are supported while applications are considered. Any asylum seeker who encounters issues with their support may
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contact Migrant Help free of charge for assistance and immediate access to interim support can be provided where eligibility has been confirmed. We continue to work closely with our IT and commercial partners and other stakeholders to resolve the issues that have recently affected a minority of service users following the introduction of the new system, to ensure that that no service users are left destitute. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165712/
Immigrants: Detainees The following three questions all received the same answer Joan Ryan (Labour) [166053] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases there were of people being identified as an adult at risk in immigration detention between 1 August 2017 and 10 July 2018 by (a) level of risk and (b) month. Joan Ryan (Labour) [166054] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people identified as an adult at risk between 1 August 2017 and 10 July 2018 resulted from a Rule 35 Report by (a) levels of risk and (b) month. Joan Ryan (Labour) [166055] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many decisions to release people identified as an adult at risk from immigration detention were made between 1 August 2017 and 10 July 2018, by (a) levels of risk and (b) month. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The way adults at risk data is currently recorded for provisional management information is under review and therefore data is particularly susceptible to change. At this time, the information requested could only be obtained and quality assured at a disproportionate cost. Individuals can be identified as being at risk in detention in a number of different ways, the Rule 35 reporting process is one of which. Centralised records do not currently determine the numbers of individuals that have been identified as an adult at risk as a result of a Rule 35 specifically and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166053/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166054/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166055/
Deportation: East Africa David Drew (Labour Co-op) [165448] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure immigration authorities adequately assess the safety risks of returning people to (a) Sudan and (b) South Sudan; and whether his Department undertakes monitoring of such people after their return to those countries. Reply from Caroline Nokes; All protection claims, including those made by Sudanese and South Sudanese nationals, are carefully considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. They are assessed against relevant caselaw and available country of origin information obtained from a range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Where people establish a genuine need for protection, we will grant it. However, those who have been found not to need protection and have no right to remain
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are expected to leave the UK. If they do not leave voluntarily we may seek to enforce their return on a case-by-case basis, when it is safe to do so. We do not monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. They are, by definition, foreign nationals who have been found not to require international protection and it would be inappropriate for us to assume any ongoing responsibility for them when they return to Sudan or South Sudan. Further, by monitoring individuals, we potentially draw attention to them and may create a risk that otherwise wouldn’t be there. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165448/
Detention Centres: Children Harriet Harman (Labour) [166045] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children have been held in immigration detention centres in the UK in each of the last eight years. Reply from Caroline Nokes: The Home Office publish data on the number of children entering detention by year and quarter. The data is available in tables dt_02 and dt_02_q of the detention tables. The latest available data are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending March 2018’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709 326/detention-mar-2018-tables.ods https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-19/166045/
UK Parliament, House of Lords Written Answers Immigration The following two questions both received the same answer Lord Empey (UUP) [HL9690] To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any change in immigration numbers from non-EU countries between the last two years for which figures are available. Lord Empey (UUP) [HL9692] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-EU immigrants entered the UK in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by country of origin. Reply from Lord Young of Cookham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to The Lord Empey, dated 24 July 2018. Dear Lord Empey, As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of any change in immigration numbers from non-EU countries between the last two years for which figures are available (HL9690); and how many non-EU immigrants entered the UK in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by country of origin (HL9692). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the latest estimates (for the year ending December 2017) of Long-Term International Migration (LTIM) on 16 July 2018[1]. Table 1 shows the immigration, emigration and net migration estimates for the UK of non-EU citizens for years ending December 2016 and December 2017 and the Confidence Intervals (CI) associated with these estimates. Non-EU immigration (311,000) is similar to the level seen in 2011. The latest increase (Table 1) follows a low level of non-EU study immigration in the year ending September 2016, which was not reflected in the most comparable visa and
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Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data. We therefore advise users to avoid comparing the latest year on year change for students and non-EU migration as a whole, but instead to look at the broader evidence and longer time series, allowing a better assessment of trends and showing that non-EU immigration has remained relatively stable over the past few years. Within the latest publication an illustrative revised trend was used to adjust for the unusual pattern in the non-EU student immigration in the year ending September 2016 and we concluded that net migration has been broadly stable over the last year. Estimates of LTIM to and from the UK are produced by ONS primarily based on data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS), with adjustments made for asylum seekers and people whose intentions change regarding their length of stay. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) data on migration to and from Northern Ireland, based on GP registrations. LTIM estimates are based on the United Nations definition of a long-term international migrant, that is, someone who changes their country of usual residence for a period of one year or more. Further detail on the methodology related to international migration is available via the ONS website[2]. The latest available estimates of long term international migration of non-EU immigrants entering the UK broken down by country of last residence (assumed to align to country of origin in your question) is for year ending December 2016 from the International Passenger Survey (IPS). A breakdown by country of last residence can be found in the table International Passenger Survey 3.01, Citizenship by Country of Last or Next Residence and is summarised in Table 2[3]. Table 1: UK Immigration, emigration and net migration of non-EU citizens Year ending Year ending December: 2017 December: 2016 Estimate[4] +/- CI Estimate +/- CI[5] Immigration 311,000 23,000 265,000 20,000 Emigration 84,000 10,000 90,000 10,000 Net Migration 227,000 25,000 175,000 23,000 Source: Office for National Statistics, Home Office, Central Statistics Office Ireland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Table 2: UK Immigration and net migration of non-EU citizens by country of last residence 2016 Country of last residence: Estimate +/- CI5
European Union Immigration 10,000 5,000 Net Migration 6,000 6,000
Non-European Union Immigration 212,000 20,000 Net Migration 133,000 22,000 Source: Office for National Statistics The data sources of Table 1 and Table 2 for year ending December 2016 differ because Table 2 is based solely on IPS estimates and Table 1 is based on the adjusted LTIM estimates, as described above. … [1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigratio n/internationalmigration/bulletins/migrationstatisticsquarterlyreport/july2018revised frommaycoveringtheperiodtodecember2017
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[2] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigratio n/internationalmigration/topicspecificmethodology [3] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigratio n/internationalmigration/datasets/internationalpassengersurveycitizenshipbycountr yoflastornextresidencetable301 [4] Year includes provisional estimates for 2017 [5] CI= Confidence Interval. These table use 95% confidence intervals (CI) to indicate the robustness of each estimate. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-19/HL9690/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-19/HL9692/
Visas: Fees and Charges Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9387] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will waive visa applications fees for people who cannot be returned to their home country because that would result in a breach of their human rights. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: Fee waivers are available for specified applications, such as those where removal or refusal to grant leave would be a breach of their human rights. Fee waivers are granted if the applicant is currently destitute, likely to be rendered destitute, or whether there are exceptional circumstances relating to their financial outgoings. This can include having to provide for the particular welfare needs of a child. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9387/
Immigrants: Health Services Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat) [HL9522] To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will introduce the 100 per cent increase in the immigration health surcharge announced in February; and whether, before introducing that increase, they will publish a Children's Rights Impact Assessment of the likely impact on children subject to immigration control currently living in the UK who will need to apply for or renew their leave to remain. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government intends to introduce the change later this year. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the draft Order to be made under section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014. The Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015 provides clear exemptions from the requirement to pay the surcharge that are designed to protect vulnerable groups. These include an exemption for applications for leave to remain made by a child under the age of 18 where that child is being looked after by a local authority, an exemption for applications that relate to a claim for asylum or humanitarian protection and an exemption for victims of modern slavery. These exemptions will be retained under the amended version of the Order. In addition, where an applicant qualifies for a visa fee waiver on destitution grounds, the surcharge is also waived. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-12/HL9522/
Immigration Bail The following two questions both received the same answer Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) [HL9375] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 June (HL Deb, col 1803),
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whether the check to ensure that no one is now having study restrictions placed on them inappropriately by means of an immigration bail condition has been completed; and if not, when will it be completed. Immigration Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) [HL9376] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 June (HL Deb, col 1803), (1) what is the outcome of the check to ensure that no one is now having study restrictions placed on them inappropriately by means of an immigration bail condition; (2) what were the categories of people on whom restrictions were imposed; (3) on how many people were restrictions inappropriately imposed in each of those categories; and (4) what steps have been taken in respect of individuals on whom restrictions were inappropriately imposed. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office completed the checks to ensure that no one has had a study restriction imposed, as part of their bail restrictions, inappropriately, by 31 May. Furthermore, the Home Office has implemented ongoing safeguards to ensure that study restrictions are only imposed where appropriate.We do not hold detailed information on all categories of persons who were incorrectly given this restriction, but the largest category of cases were asylum seekers who had not exhausted their appeal rights. Provisional management information indicates that over 4,000 people have had their bail restriction on study varied in May 2018, although it should be noted that it is not possible to distinguish the exact nature of the variation that was applied to their bail conditions. We believe we have issued new bail notices to all those affected to reflect this variation, but will look at any new case brought to our attention. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9375/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9376/
The statement referred to above can be read at https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-06-14/debates/4EB5AD24-87B4-43E9-908F- 1DE447952889/ImmigrationHostileEnvironment#contribution-2E5E2249-E657-4027- AA6C-D0A5C78C719E
Immigration: Children and Young People Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat) [HL9521] To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on children and young people subject to immigration control of the increasing cost of limited leave to remain application fees. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: Assessments of the impact of visa and immigration fee increases are published along-side the appropriate Statutory Instruments. The most recent relevant assessments can be found via the following links: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2016/10/pdfs/ukia_20160010_en.pdf http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/330/impacts Exemptions are available for vulnerable groups such as children in local authority care. In addition, applicants for leave and further leave to remain on specified human rights grounds may be granted a fee waiver if they are destitute or face destitution, or for reasons relating to the welfare of a child. UKIA - Legislation 2016 https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-12/HL9521/
Immigration: Windrush Generation Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated) [HL9313] To ask Her Majesty's Government
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how many people were affected by the Windrush scandal; and how many of those were wrongfully (1) detained, and (2) deported. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Secretary provided an update on the work being done by the Home Office to identify individuals who have been removed or detained, and who might have been part of the Windrush generation, in a letter dated 10 July to Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP. A copy of that letter is available on the Home Office Select Committee website and can be accessed through this link – https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/home- affairs/Windrush-Home-Office-update-10-July-2018.pdf Letter - Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP - HASC https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-05/HL9313/
Immigration: Windrush Generation The following two questions both received the same answer Lord Beecham (Labour) [HL9679] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether those affected by the Home Office's wrongful detention of Windrush immigrants who have received compensation have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements; and if so, why. Lord Beecham (Labour) [HL9680] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Windrush immigrants have received compensation; and how many of them, if any, have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: There has been a single payment of compensation for unlawful detention in a Windrush generation case and this was subject to a confidentiality agreement. It has been long-standing practice under successive governments for the Home Office to agree confidentiality when settling immigration and asylum compensation claims, when appropriate. However, we intend to take a different approach in setting up the Windrush compensation scheme. We have committed to establishing a compensation scheme which is tailored to meet the needs of those affected. Nobody who receives compensation through the Windrush compensation scheme will be bound by any condition of confidentiality, unless requested by the individual in question. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-19/HL9679/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-19/HL9680/
Immigration: EU Nationals Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated) [HL9406] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, after Brexit, it will be easier for EU citizens to come to the UK than it is for people elsewhere in the world. Reply from Lord Callanan: We have been clear that free movement of people will end as the UK leaves the EU. The White Paper: The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union sets out that the UK will make a sovereign choice in a defined number of areas to seek reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU, for example to allow business professionals to move to provide services, or tourists to continue to travel freely without a visa. This is in line with the arrangements that the UK might want to offer other close trading partners in future, where they support new and deep trade deals. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9406/
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Immigration: Children and Young People Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) [HL9750] To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the statement by the Minister of Immigration on 21 June (HC Deb, cols 508–20) that vulnerable EU citizens applying for settled status will be provided with assistance at contact centres, whether comparable support is provided for children and young people applying for limited leave to remain or citizenship; and if not, why not. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: All customers, including children and young people, have access to customer contact centre services when making an application in any category. Staff at the centre will signpost the customer to the most appropriate part of guidance available on GOV.UK, and where appropriate they will direct them to support services outside of the Home Office. The contact centre staff are trained to identify, support and escalate any vulnerable cases, including vulnerable children, vulnerable adults and those with assisted digital needs. These customer enquiries are then referred on to the appropriate team. We continually review training guidance and procedures for our contact centre staff to ensure any vulnerable groups are identified and supported as necessary. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-20/HL9750/
The statement referred to above can be read at https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-06-21/debates/F9399B0C-6967-4F2C- BF14-FCD3F4DEBC4A/EUSettlementScheme
Refugees: Syria The Lord Bishop of Coventry [HL9547] To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of why the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has referred so few Christians, Yazidis and other Syrian religious minorities for resettlement in the UK; whether any members of those minorities were resettled in the UK in the first quarter of 2018; and if not, why not. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: In resettlement, the UK works according to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality which means that we do not take into consideration the ethno-religious origins of people requiring assistance as we resettle solely on the basis of needs, identified by UNHCR through their established submission categories. We believe that one way to protect the privacy of those being resettled and ensure their recovery and integration is to limit the amount of information about them that we make publicly available. We therefore do not believe it is appropriate to publish a religious and ethnic breakdown of those who have been resettled. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-16/HL9547/
Refugees: LGBT People Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) [HL9665] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will list from which countries they would grant LGBTQ+ applicants refugee status based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are unable to provide a list of countries from which applicants would be granted refugee status based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is because all claims for international protection are considered in accordance with our international obligations. Individual claims are considered against any relevant caselaw and the background of the latest available country information. This is based on a careful and objective assessment of the situation in a given country using evidence taken from a range of sources including media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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Our assessment of the situation for persons seeking asylum based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression is set out in the relevant country policy and information notes, which are available on the Gov.uk website. Caseworkers also have access to an on-demand request service, where they can ask for specific research on issues or countries not covered by a country policy and information note. However, the country information forms the objective background against which applications are decided. Crucially, decision makers must still consider the individual facts and merits of a particular case to determine whether or not that person qualifies for asylum. The Government takes its international responsibilities seriously and grants protection to those who qualify. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-18/HL9665/
Asylum Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9392] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers were awaiting decisions on their status in the first two quarters of 2018. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office publishes data on the number of asylum cases pending a decision at the end of each quarter in table as_01_q (asylum, volume 1) of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709 299/asylum1-mar-2018-tables.ods The latest figures show the total number of asylum cases pending a decision at the end of March 2018 was 24,593. Of this total, the number pending an initial decision was 22,100. Figures for the end of June 2018 are due to be published on the 23rd August 2018. Table - as_01q https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9392/
Asylum: Interviews The following two questions both received the same answer Lord Hylton (Crossbench) [HL9427] To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards they plan to put in place to ensure that any poor interpreting and poor interview practices do not adversely affect individual asylum claims. Lord Hylton (Crossbench) [HL9428] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to audio-record all substantive asylum interviews. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: All asylum interviews are carried out by an impartial interviewing officer. All interpreters engaged by the Home Office must demonstrate they have the required skills and qualifications. They are also bound by a “Code of Conduct” to ensure minimum standards for interpreting and behaviour. Home Office policy and guidance ensures that in the event of interpreters or interviews falling short of those standards, it would not adversely affect an individual’s asylum claim. Interviewing Officers are encouraged to provide feedback on the performance of interpreters, using specifically designed monitoring forms. Interviews may also be monitored for training and security purposes. Increased use of technologies, such as interviewing by video conferencing facilities, are being trialled to increase efficiency and transform the asylum process. Currently the majority of interviews are conducted face to face. We have recently introduced digital interviewing capability across the asylum casework operational as part of the wider Home Office digital transformation programme, which aims for the department to become ‘digital by default’. We are aiming to digitally record all asylum interviews and provide claimants and their
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legal representative with a digital recording of their interview in addition to a written transcript. Claimants who do not want their interview to be audio recorded and provide reasonable explanation for this will be exempt from the recording requirement. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-11/HL9427/ and https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-11/HL9428/
Asylum: Finance Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) [HL9551] To ask Her Majesty's Government how long it takes for an asylum seeker to receive a decision on their application for section 4 support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; if successful in their application, how soon they should receive that support; and what is the average time taken (1) to decide an application for section 4 support, and (2) for payment to be made. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office has a range of measures for processing asylum support applications depending on the nature of the application being made. Access to accommodation and subsistence payments is provided once suitable accommodation is sourced and eligibility confirmed. Currently information on processing times is not recorded in a format suitable for publication and there are no plans to publish such statistics at this time. The Home Office is continuing to work with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum to consider what further information could be made publicly available once the new IT system for asylum support casework has been fully implemented later this year. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-16/HL9551/
Asylum: English Language Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9663] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide asylum seekers arriving in the UK with opportunities to learn English free of charge. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: Not everyone who makes their own way to the UK to seek asylum will be found to be in need of protection and many will have travelled through other safe countries to get to the UK. The Government does not fund English classes for asylum seekers. Asylum seekers aged 19 or over become eligible for a 50% contribution to the costs of English language classes through the Adult Education Budget, when they have been legally in the UK for longer than six months and are awaiting a decision on their asylum claim, or have failed in their claim but have been granted support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-18/HL9663/
Asylum: Education Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9662] To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that asylum seekers are able to finish the academic year in school once they have turned 18. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: When asylum seekers reach the age of 18 years, they may continue to study pending a final decision on their application. If the application is refused, consideration will be given to the impact that removal action may have on the welfare and development of the child at their current stage of education, and this will be weighed against the possible effects of delaying removal.
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https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-18/HL9662/
Migrant Workers: Emergency Services Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9661] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to give asylum seekers working in emergency services whose leave to remain expires priority status to remain in the UK. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own. The policy is designed to protect the resident labour market so that access to employment is prioritised for British citizens and lawful residents, including those granted refugee status. Those who need protection are granted leave with full access to the labour market and mainstream benefits and can apply for settlement after five years. Refugees should apply for settlement before their five years’ leave expires – doing so will enable them to continue to work whilst their settlement application is decided. All settlement applications are considered on their individual merits. We have no plans to change this policy. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-18/HL9661/
Asylum: LGBT People Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) [HL9515] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have claimed asylum on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity in the last 24 months; and of those, how many have been granted (1) refugee status, and (2) right to remain. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: In November 2017, the Home Office published an experimental statistics report on asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation, this includes data on asylum claims, initial decisions and appeals where sexual orientation formed part of the basis for the claim. The report covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 31 March 2017. The report is published at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/asylum-claims-on-the-basis-of-sexual- orientation Between 1July 2015 and 31 March 2017, there were 3,535 asylum claims where sexual orientation formed part of the basis for the claim. Of these, 3,332 had an initial decision, 838 (25%) of which were grants of asylum or other forms of leave (814 grants of asylum and 24 grants of limited leave). Stats - Asylum claims on the basis - sexual orient https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-12/HL9515/
Asylum: LGBT People Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) [HL9516] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people who claimed asylum on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity have been subject to enforced removal from the UK in the last 24 months; and of those removed, which countries they were returned to; and how many were returned to each country. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office recently published information on the number of people claiming asylum on the basis of sexual orientation. Unfortunately, specific information on the numbers removed and the country of removal is not currently published and could only be obtained by a manual check of each record. The overlying data can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/asylum-claims-on-the-basis-of-sexual- orientation
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Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-12/HL9516/
Immigrants: Detainees Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) [HL9579] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Minister for Immigration on 16 July (HC Deb, col 11), whether all of the 44 children held in immigration detention, in the last period for which numbers are available, were held with their families immediately prior to return; whether all were held at Tinsley House; and whether any were detained for longer than 72 hours. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: There were 44 children held in immigration detention between January and December 2017. 11 children were removed from the UK, with five being returned from Gatwick Pre-Departure Accommodation and six from the Family Unit within Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre. All 11 children who were returned were held with their families prior to return for less than 72 hours. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-17/HL9579/
The answer referred to above can be read at https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-16/debates/128C2862-F658-4B13- 99F4-F157E96C2848/ImmigrationDetentionChildren#contribution-D994F8BA-FB92- 47E3-907E-4B4EA0ED90E3
Deportation Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) [HL9388] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in each age group forced to leave the UK for immigration reasons in the last five years were (1) under 19 years old, (2) between 19 and 30 years old, (3) between 31 and 60 years old, and (4) over 60 years old. Reply from Baroness Williams of Trafford: Information on the number of people that have been returned from the UK on an annual basis by age group, is available in table rt_03 (returns data tables, volume 2) in ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending March 2018’, available from the GOV.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709 311/returns2-mar-2018-tables.ods rt_03 Returns 2 - March 2018 - Table https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-10/HL9388/
UK Parliament Petition Kate Green (Labour): … The petition of residents of the United Kingdom, Declares that the current government policy which states that initial asylum decisions ‘will be usually decided within six months’ has not been followed in many cases, with some people waiting years without being able to work, choose where to live or move forward with their lives; further that in 2017, almost half of all asylum claimants waited six months for their initial decisions; and further that, this leaves many people in a state of uncertainty regarding their future, affecting their health, mental health, careers, education, and their financial situation as evidenced in the report, ‘The Waiting Game’ produced by Refugee and Asylum Seeker (RAS) Voice, a group of people seeking asylum living in Manchester. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to follow its guidelines and ensure initial asylum decisions are made within six months, failing this, the government should ensure that claimants are informed of the reasons behind any delay. … [P002252] https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-24/debates/79EBE7DA-CB33-4276- B853-17EDDF352959/AsylumDecisions
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Press Releases Call to devolve migration https://news.gov.scot/news/call-to-devolve-migration
Home Secretary statement on immigration detention and Shaw report https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-statement-on-immigration- detention-and-shaw-report
New commitments to tackling vulnerability in immigration detention announced https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-commitments-to-tackling-vulnerability-in- immigration-detention-announced
States must treat refugees and migrants as rights holders and act to prevent trafficking and exploitation https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23413&LangID=E
Human Trafficking ‘Takes Many Forms, Knows No Borders’, Secretary-General Says in Message for World Day https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sgsm19146.doc.htm
Efforts to combat trafficking, including of children, must focus on both effects and roots of this crime, OSCE officials say on world anti-trafficking day https://www.osce.org/odihr/389324
Submit your examples of good practices on child-friendly procedures in the migration context https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/submit-your-examples-of-good-practices-on-child- friendly-procedures-in-the-migration-context
New Publications Policy options for future migration from the European Economic Area: Interim report https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmhaff/857/857.pdf
Welfare in detention of vulnerable persons review: progress report https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/728377/Shaw_report_2018_Final_PDF.pdf
Briefing: Migration statistics http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06077/SN06077.pdf
Periodic data collection on the migration situation in the EU - July 2018 Highlights http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2018-july-periodic-migration-report- highlights_en.pdf
An assessment of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/730098/assessment-of-independent-child-trafficking-advocates-horr101.pdf
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News: asylum seeker eviction crisis Scottish Human Rights Commission concerned about human rights of people facing eviction in Glasgow http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/news/commission-concerned-about-human-rights- of-people-facing-eviction-in-glasgow/
Asylum Seekers to be Locked Out of Homes http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/news_and_events/news/3327_asylum_seekers _to_be_locked_out_of_homes
Eviction notices burned by protestors at Home Office http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16399131.eviction-notices-burned-by-protestors-at- home-office/
Serco to 'pause' asylum seeker eviction lock-change plan https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45069712
Serco to pause plans to evict asylum seekers after Glasgow protests https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/04/glasgow-protesters-rally-against- serco-plan-to-evict-asylum-seekers
Serco to ‘pause lock change notices’ to allow case to be tested in court https://www.scotsman.com/news/serco-to-pause-lock-change-notices-to-allow-case-to- be-tested-in-court-1-4778847
Protesters block entrance to Home Office in Glasgow in eviction row https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/video-protesters-block-entrance-to-home-office- in-glasgow-in-eviction-row-1-4778380
Two held after Brand Street protest over asylum evictions https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/scotland/two-held-after-brand- street-protest-over-asylum-evictions-snzqzz0bq
Serco right about one thing in asylum seeker eviction row https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/brian-wilson-serco-right-about-one-thing-in- asylum-seeker-eviction-row-1-4778270
Campaigners burn eviction notices in Glasgow as row grows over plans to kick out asylum seekers https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/campaigners-burn-eviction-notices- glasgow-13032412
Alarm among Glasgow's asylum seekers as Serco confirms eviction plan https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/02/alarm-among-glasgows-asylum- seekers-as-serco-confirms-eviction-plan
Court bid launched to stop ‘inhumane’ refugee evictions http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16395105.court-bid-launched-to-stop-inhumane- refugee-evictions/
Spare rooms appeal for eviction-hit refugees https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spare-rooms-appeal-for-eviction-hit-refugees-1- 4778013
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People granted asylum among those facing mass evictions in Glasgow http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16392201.people-granted-asylum-among-those- facing-mass-evictions-in-glasgow/?ref=mr&lp=11
'Hunger strike' over refugee evictions https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45036809
Refugees begin ‘hunger strike’ in response to Serco eviction notices in Glasgow https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/refugees-begin-hunger-strike-in-response-to- serco-eviction-notices-in-glasgow-1-4776793
Council taskforce to help asylum seekers facing eviction https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45022272
Hundreds protest asylum evictions as Serco vows to press ahead http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16389528.hundreds-protest-asylum-evictions-as- serco-vows-to-press-ahead/?ref=mr&lp=16
Crusading asylum seeker's stand against eviction could save 300 others from same fate https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/kurdish-asylum-seekers-stand-against- 13011669
Home Secretary urged to halt eviction of failed asylum seekers in Glasgow https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45007011
Sajid Javid urged to halt Serco eviction of Glasgow asylum seekers https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/30/sajid-javid-urged-to-halt-serco-eviction- of-glasgow-asylum-seekers
Glasgow council warns of humanitarian crisis over asylum seeker evictions https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/01/glasgow-council-warns- humanitarian-crisis-refugee-evictions-serco
Javid urged to stop ‘callous’ evictions of failed asylum seekers https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-31/scotland/javid-urged-to-stop- callous-evictions-of-failed-asylum-seekers-fkhpfd2x6
Rejected refugees facing homelessness over ‘inhumane’ plan to change locks https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-30/scotland/rejected-refugees-facing- homeless-in-inhumane-plan-to-change-their-locks-ml7tc5sbg
Serco plans to ‘act unlawfully’ over Glasgow evictions, claims lawyer https://www.scotsman.com/news/serco-plans-to-act-unlawfully-over-glasgow-evictions- claims-lawyer-1-4776314
Serco ‘considering’ suspending refugee evictions http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16387008.serco-considering-suspending-refugee-evictions/
Glasgow 'blindsided' as destitute refugees face mass evictions http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16384920.glasgow-blindsided-as-destitute- refugees-face-mass-evictions/?ref=mr&lp=1
‘Despicable’ plan to evict asylum seekers by changing locks in Glasgow https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/despicable-plan-to-evict-asylum-seekers-by- changing-locks-in-glasgow-1-4775962
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Hundreds of Scots asylum seekers to become homeless as 'brutal and inhumane' contractors change locks on their homes https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/asylum-seekers-become-homeless- contractors-12997078
Asylum seeker evictions 'deeply concerning' http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2018/asylum_seeker_evictio ns_deeply_concerning
Other immigration and asylum news Migration helps Scotland's population reach record high http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16390992.migration-helps-scotlands-population- reach-record-high/
Thousands of vulnerable people locked in UK immigration centres in ‘unacceptable’ conditions, review finds https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigration-detention-centres- review-stephen-shaw-removal-a8461901.html
Immigrants being restrained during deportation 'with little justification', says prisons watchdog https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigrant-deport-prisons-uk- restrain-waist-belt-immigration-a8460601.html
Sajid Javid to consider ending indefinite immigration detention https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/24/sajid-javid-to-consider-ending- indefinite-immigration-detention
UN backs calls for time limit on UK immigration detention https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/unhcr-immigration-detention-time- limit-indefinite-home-office-sajid-javid-a8464396.html
Asylum seekers ‘being frozen out by employers and banks’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/asylum-seekers-being-frozen-out-by-employers-and- banks-0htzsw3tw
UK employers to get 'toolkit' to help them register EU workers https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/25/uk-employers-to-get-toolkit-to-help- them-register-eu-workers
UK firms paying up to £100,000 extra to lure skilled EU workers as net migration falls, survey finds https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-firms-paying-lure-skilled-eu- workers-brexit-net-migration-falls-a8462331.html
Appeal to re-assess Dubs scheme consultation opens https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/appeal-to-re-assess-dubs-scheme-consultation-opens- cx3ffbbl7
Young refugee Asif had a beautiful smile, but no family and no hope https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/news/young-refugee-asif-had-a- beautiful-smile-but-no-family-and-no-hope-ns6x8nzxb
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No Christians in UK’s Syrian refugee intake https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-christians-in-uks-syrian-refugee-intake-9c8jkbrv6
Home Office misled court about treatment of child refugees from Calais, judges find https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/31/home-office-misled-court-about- treatment-of-child-refugees-from-calais-judges-find
Home Office misled court over child migrant refusals https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/home-office-misled-court-over-child-migrant- refusals-lg6frx5zf
Calais Jungle child refugees denied UK entry because Home Office denied them right to appeal https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/07/31/calais-jungle-child-refugees-denied-uk- entry-home-office-denied/
Windrush victims 'gagged' with non-disclosure agreements in return for fast- track compensation https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/windrush-scandal-latest-sajid-javid- gagging-victims-compensation-hostile-environment-a8476441.html
EU teacher applications plummet https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eu-teacher-applications-plummet-75g5x9zkj
Home Secretary urged to look asylum seekers in the eye and tell them 'they are at it' http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2018/home_secretary_urge d_to_look_asylum_seekers_in_the_eye_and_tell_them_they_are_at_it
Scotland needs to attract people to live and work here – UK immigrations policies are having the opposite effect http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16384548.comment-scotland-needs-to-attract- people-to-live-
Syrians ‘happiest when resettled in Scotland’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/scotland/syrians-happiest-when- resettled-in-scotland-khl8dwrmd
Scotland should be proud of being most welcoming place in UK for refugees https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scotland-more-welcoming-place- refugees-12987248
Refugees' housing in Belfast 'below basic standards’ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-45011911
Lanarkshire detention centre puts vulnerable women ‘at risk’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/lanarkshire-detention-centre-puts-vulnerable- women-at-risk-lmq9frl77
Detaining migrant children can never be justified http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16385381.agenda-detaining-migrant-children- can-never-be-justified/
Migration to Europe in charts https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44660699
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Stand up and be counted in asylum battle https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/dani-garavelli-stand-up-and-be-counted-in- asylum-battle-1-4775366
Struggle to find Arabic teacher for Syrian refugees’ children on Bute http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16387326.struggle-to-find-arabic-teacher-for-syrian- refugees-children-on-bute/
Chinatown businesses shut in protest against Home Office raids https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/24/chinatown-businesses-london-shut- protest-home-office-immigration-raids
Brexit fears of EU citizen who lived in UK for 40 years https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44468158
I'm the sort of highly skilled non-EU immigrant the UK is now courting. But after witnessing the fallout from the referendum, I don't want to stay https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-immigration-eu-skilled-workers-michael- gove-dominic-raab-a8475626.html
Foreign musicians shunning UK, says Womad organiser https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/26/foreign-musicians-shunning-uk-says- womad-organiser
Difficult visa process puts future of Womad in doubt https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/difficult-visa-process-puts-future-of-womad-in- doubt-0hdx2rvgq
Foreign pop stars told they need visas to perform in Britain https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/news/foreign-pop-stars-told-they- need-visas-to-perform-in-britain-l8vgppmhh
Brexit visa chaos may be 'step too far' for artists performing at the Fringe http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16386952.brexit-visa-chaos-may-be-step-too-far- for-artists-performing-at-the-fringe/
Visa battle to keep child chess prodigy Shreyas Royal in the UK https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/03/visa-battle-to-keep-child-chess- prodigy-shreyas-royal-in-the-uk
Let Indian chess prodigy Shreyas Royal stay in UK, Sajid Javid is urged https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/news/let-indian-chess-prodigy- shreyas-royal-stay-in-uk-sajid-javid-is-urged-g8szghmpv
This is what LGBTQI+ people have to go through to gain asylum in the UK https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lgbt-rights-gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender- asylum-uk-a8468456.html
British Airways criticised by LGBT groups over asylum removals https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/02/british-airways-criticised-by-lgbt-groups- over-asylum-removals
Hope and fear in the immigration waiting game http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16387335.hope-and-fear-in-the-immigration- waiting-game/
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Glasgow asylum seekers facing deportation tell of flight from Afghanistan http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16387339.glasgow-asylum-seekers-facing- deportation-tell-of-flight-from-afghanistan/
'I was terrified': Asylum seeker speaks out after being wrongly deported from UK by Home Office https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/deported-error-asylum-seeker- ethiopia-home-office-solomon-getenet-yitbarek-a8458651.html
The Home Office wants to keep the horrors of Yarl’s Wood a secret – here’s what happened to me https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/yarls-wood-shaw-report-home-office-indefinite- detention-a8463711.html
Our shameful immigration detention policy https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/05/observer-view-shameful- immigration-detention-policy-separating-children-parents
‘I left my daughter at nursery. I didn’t see her for a month’: how UK splits migrant families https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/05/child-separation-migrant-parents-uk- hostile-environment-trump
How the hostile environment crept into UK schools, hospitals and homes https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/01/hostile-environment-immigrants- crept-into-schools-hospitals-homes-border-guards
Asylum seeker charity runs out of cash http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/no-more-emergency-loans-for-refugees TOP
Equality
UK Parliament, House of Commons Written Answer Young Offenders: Ethnic Groups Richard Burden (Labour) [165113] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of children in the secure estate were from BAME backgrounds in the last 18 months; and if he will make a statement. Reply from Edward Argar: The information requested is in table 1 below. Table 1. Number and proportion of BAME under 18 children and young people in custody, December 2016 to May 2018 Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Nov- 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 BAME young 361 385 384 377 412 415 406 416 405 400 people in custody % BAME of total under- 18 custodial 44% 45% 45% 44% 46% 45% 44% 45% 46% 45% population (excluding unknowns)
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Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr May- 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 -18 18 BAME young 397 408 400 394 374 385 429 452 428 people in custody % BAME of total under- 18 custodial 45% 45% 45% 46% 43% 45% 47% 49% 49% population (excluding unknowns) https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-17/165113/
UK Parliament, House of Lords Written Answers Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups Lord Boateng (Labour) [HL9325] To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the recovery rates for Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) patients referred for treatment through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in comparison with other patient groups; whether recovery rates for BAME patients vary between the worst deprived and least deprived areas; and if so, how. Reply from Lord O’Shaughnessy: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies recovery rates by ethnicity group and Indices of Multiple Deprivation are shown in the attached table, due to the size of the data. IAPT recovery rates https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-09/HL9325/
Mental Health: Travellers Baroness Whitaker (Labour) [HL9634] To ask Her Majesty's Government what data, if any, they collect in relation to the diagnosed mental health status, and self-harm and suicide rates among self-identifying Gypsies and Travellers within the secure estate; and how such recorded data compares with that of other ethnic groups whose ethnicity is recorded on NOMIS or is otherwise monitored. Reply from Lord O’Shaughnessy: Data on people detained in the secure estate, including secure mental health hospitals, prisons and immigration removal centres, are collected in different ways across Government. Across the secure estate, data on ethnicity is collected through self-reporting which impacts the ability to provide ethnic breakdowns with confidence. The Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) collects data on people in contact with National Health Service funded secondary mental health, autism and learning disability services, including secure mental health hospitals. The MHSDS uses ethnicity codes which align with the 2011 Census and NOMIS ethnic groups and includes a category for ‘White (Gypsy or Irish Traveller)’. It does not collect data on suicide and self-harm rates of people identifying as gypsies or travellers. Prison recording systems such as the Prison National Offender Information System (p-NOMIS) do not hold clinical data, although individual prisoners’ records may refer to aspects of it where relevant. An example is that a vulnerable prisoner being supported through the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process may have mental health needs that are noted in their ACCT documents, so that non-clinical staff are aware of them and will respond
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appropriately. p-NOMIS records incidents of self-harm and all deaths of prisoners, including suicide. For ethnic monitoring it uses the same classifications as the 2011 census. The specific option for Gypsies or Travellers is ‘White (Gypsy or Irish Traveller)’. Anyone not identifying themselves as such may use another, such as ‘White (other)’ or ‘Other’. It is not possible to calculate rates of self-harm or suicide by ethnicity with confidence. Data on people detained in immigration removal centres is recorded by nationality. Data is not routinely recorded on people who may identify as gypsy or traveller. The Office for National Statistics, which is the official source of suicide data for the United Kingdom, does not collect data on suicide registrations by ethnicity. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-17/HL9634/
News Lack of diversity in Welsh curriculum sparks role model fear https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-44953312 TOP
Racism, Religious Hatred, and Discrimination
UK Parliament Ministerial Statement Government Response to Caste Consultation The Minister for Women and Equalities (Penny Mordaunt) [HCWS898] No one should suffer prejudice or discrimination on any grounds, including any perception of their caste. In March last year, the Government launched a consultation on “Caste in Great Britain and Equality Law” to obtain the views of the public on how best to ensure that appropriate and proportionate legal protection exists for victims of caste discrimination. The consultation ran in total for six months, closing in September 2017. I am publishing the Government’s response to that consultation today, together with an independent analysis of the consultation that provides an assessment of all the responses. This report should be read in conjunction with the Government’s response. The consultation considered different ways of protecting people from caste discrimination. The first option was to implement a duty, which was introduced by Parliament in 2013, to make caste an aspect of race discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The second was to rely on emerging case law which, in the view of Government, shows that a statutory remedy against caste discrimination is available through existing provisions in the Equality Act, and to invite Parliament to repeal the duty on that basis. The consultation received over 16,000 responses, showing the importance of this issue for many people in particular communities. About 53% of respondents wanted to rely on the existing statutory remedy and repeal the duty, 22% rejected both options (mainly because they wished the Government to proscribe the concept of caste in British law altogether) and about 18% of respondents wanted the duty to be implemented. The arguments put forward for these different views are set out in the Government’s response and in more detail in the analysis. The Government’s primary concern is to ensure that legal protection against caste discrimination is sufficient, appropriate and proportionate. After careful consideration of all the points raised in the consultation, we have decided to invite Parliament to repeal the duty because it is now sufficiently clear that the Equality Act provides this protection.
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The judgment of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Tirkey v. Chandhok shows that someone claiming caste discrimination may rely on the existing statutory remedy where they can show that their “caste” is related to their ethnic origin, which is itself an aspect of race discrimination in the Equality Act. The judgment is binding on all who bring a claim in an employment tribunal, has status equivalent to a High Court decision, and is based on the application of case law decided at a higher level. The Government consider, having also taken into account the consultation responses, that the Tirkey judgment serves as a welcome clarification of the existing protection under the Equality Act—helping to deter those inclined to treat others unfairly or unequally because of conceptions of caste. We believe that the decision makes the introduction of additional statutory protection in the Equality Act unnecessary. In light of changed circumstances since 2013, we intend to legislate to repeal the duty for a specific reference to caste as an aspect of race discrimination in the Equality Act once a suitable legislative vehicle becomes available . We recognise that this is an area of domestic law which may develop further, and have carefully considered the full terms of the Tirkey judgment. We will monitor emerging case law in the years ahead. To make clear that caste discrimination is unacceptable we will, if appropriate, support a case with a view to ensuring that the higher courts reinforce the position set out in Tirkey v. Chandhok. In order to ensure that people know their rights and what sort of conduct could be unlawful under the Equality Act, we also intend to produce short guidance before the repeal legislation is introduced. We want this to be of particular use to any individual who feels they may have suffered discrimination on grounds of caste. It should also help employers, service providers and public authorities who are outside those groups most concerned with caste and who may have little awareness of caste divisions. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07- 23/debates/18072314000022/GovernmentResponseToCasteConsultation
UK Parliament, House of Commons Written Answers Universities: Hate Crime Jo Stevens (Labour) [165616] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has estimated the number of hate crimes reported on university property in the 2016-17 academic year. Reply from Sam Gyimah: The government takes all forms of hate crime extremely seriously. There is no place in our society - including within higher education – for hatred or any form of harassment, discrimination or racism. Information on the number of hate crimes on university property in the 2016-17 academic year is not held centrally. The Universities UK Harassment and Hate Crime Taskforce, which was set up in September 2015 at the government’s request, makes a number of recommendations on tackling harassment and hate crime on campus, including on improving reporting rates and mechanisms for disclosure in higher education providers. These include, that relevant internal and external support should be signposted, and that reporting procedures should be centralised, accessible, and allow for anonymity if preferred, as well as enabling accurate data to be captured to determine the scale of a problem and track year on-year trends. The government expects higher education providers to take these recommendations seriously and to have robust policies and procedures in place to investigate and address hate crime. To support providers in implementing the Taskforce’s recommendations, the Office for Students is supporting and evaluating over 100 safeguarding projects to the value of £4.5 million. This includes 63 projects to improve responses to hate
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crime and online harassment on campus, and 11 to tackle religious-based hate crime. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-18/165616/
Licensed Premises: Travellers Kate Green (Labour) [161158] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers are not discriminated against in licensed premises. Reply from Nigel Adam: This Government is clear that all forms of unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The UK has a strong legal framework, and effective remedies, for the protection of human rights and for combating discrimination, complemented by the UK ratification and implementation of international human rights instruments. Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Scottish Gypsy/Travellers have been recognised by the courts as specific racial groups for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 and it is clear that licensed premises must not discriminate against members of any of these groups. Within licensed premises, local authorities and operators of those premises have a responsibility to promote four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 on the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-05/161158/
UK Parliament, House of Lords Written Answers Mental Health: Travellers Baroness Whitaker (Labour) [HL9633] To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent study by the University of Essex, The Cumulative Effect of Racial Discrimination on the Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities in the UK; and what monitoring they undertake or evidence they collect in relation to the impact of racism on the mental health and wellbeing of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people. Reply from Lord O’Shaughnessy: It is planned that The Cumulative Effect of Racial Discrimination on the Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities in the UK will be examined as part of a wider piece of work to be undertaken by the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance programme. This is to examine effective strategies to reduce racial disparities in mental health. The programme is overseen by the Department, NHS England and Public Health England, who work together with VCSE organisations to drive transformation of health and care systems; promote equality; address health inequalities and help people, families and communities to achieve and maintain wellbeing. It is anticipated that work will begin later this summer. The impact of racism on the mental health and wellbeing of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people is not routinely monitored. The Department has commissioned NHS England to scope out whether data collection within the National Health Service could be improved to include more of the protected characteristics listed under the Equality Act 2010. The Government is committed to improving NHS data collection to better understand the extent of inequalities, determine health outcomes and uptake of health services for these communities. The initial scoping exercise is due to be completed later this year. The Government is committed to ensuring that attention is focussed on developing national and local services to reduce unfair gaps in outcomes between ethnic groups. The Government’s ethnicity facts and figures online resource brings
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together information from across Government about how ethnicity affects people's everyday lives. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-17/HL9633/
The report referred to above is not available online
Press Releases Tell MAMA’s Annual Report for 2017 Shows Highest Number of Anti-Muslim Incidents https://tellmamauk.org/tell-mamas-annual-report-for-2017-shows-highest-number-of-anti- muslim-incidents/
CST Antisemitic Incidents Report for January-June 2018 published https://cst.org.uk/news/blog/2018/07/25/cst-antisemitic-incidents-report-for-january-june- 2018-published-today
Council of Europe honours Roma victims of the Holocaust: “acknowledge the past and improve Roma rights today” https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/council-of-europe-honours-roma-victims-of-the- holocaust-acknowledge-the-past-and-improve-roma-rights-today-
Statement by First Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Jourová ahead of Roma Holocaust Memorial Day http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-4749_en.htm
Roma Holocaust Day – learning from the past http://fra.europa.eu/en/news/2018/roma-holocaust-day-learning-past
New Publications Beyond the Incident: Outcomes for victims of Anti-Muslim Prejudice https://tellmamauk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Tell-MAMA-Report-2017.pdf
Antisemitic Incidents: January–June 2018 https://cst.org.uk/public/data/file/e/5/Incidents%20Report%20January-June%202018.pdf
Caste in Great Britain and equality law: a public consultation Government consultation response https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/727790/Caste_in_Great_Britain_and_equality_law-consultation_response.pdf
The Equality Act 2010: caste discrimination http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06862/SN06862.pdf
News: Labour Party antisemitism Scottish Labour leader backs Corbyn position on anti-Semitism row http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16399051.scottish-labour-leader-backs-corbyn- position-on-anti-semitism-row/
Richard Leonard calls for further Labour discussion with Jewish community http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16398626.richard-leonard-calls-for-further-labour- discussion-with-jewish-community/
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Scottish Labour MSPs urge party to adopt full international anti-Semitism definition https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-labour-msps-urge-party-13001022
Scottish Labour leader urged to speak out on anti-Semitism https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-44944378
Scottish labour leader Richard Leonard under fire in anti-semitism row https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/scottish-labour-leader-richard-leonard-under- fire-in-anti-semitism-row-98l2c5k03
Jeremy Corbyn set for partial climbdown over definition at heart of Labour's antisemitism row https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-antisemitism- row-jewish-ihra-definition-israel-holocaust-remembrance-a8478196.html
Jeremy Corbyn admits Labour has 'real problem' with antisemitism https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-antisemitism- jewish-people-ihra-margaret-hodge-row-israel-a8476711.html
Jeremy Corbyn's 'stunt' speech at Jewish Museum called off as Labour anti-Semitism crisis escalates https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/08/03/jewish-museum-bars-corbyn-speech- stunt-labour-mps-threaten-quit/
Plans for Jeremy Corbyn to give speech on Labour's antisemitism crisis at Jewish Museum collapse https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-labour-party- jewish-museum-speech-collapse-a8475956.html
Jewish dismay at Corbyn olive branch on sabbath https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/news/jewish-dismay-at-corbyn- olive-branch-on-sabbath-lv2mff333
Antisemitism row adds strength to growing sense of Jewish identity https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/04/uk-jews-are-finding-their-voice
Labour risks 'eternal shame' over anti-Semitism, says Tom Watson https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45073081
Tom Watson: Labour faces ‘eternal shame’ over antisemitism https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/04/tom-watson-labour-antisemitism- eternal-shame
Anti-Semites don't speak for me, says Jeremy Corbyn https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45058728
I will root antisemites out of Labour – they do not speak for me https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/03/jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism- labour-party
Jeremy Corbyn vows to root out Labour anti-Semites but critics remain unmoved http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16398584.jeremy-corbyn-vows-to-root-out-labour- anti-semites-but-critics-remain-unmoved/
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Labour 'shaken to the core' by anti-Semitism row https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45035341
A guide to Labour Party anti-Semitism claims https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45030552
Momentum withdraws support for Labour member after ‘deeply insensitive’ remarks http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16392386.momentum-withdraws-support-for- labour-member-after-deeply-insensitive-remarks/
Ian Austin: Labour MP faces action after anti-Semitism code row https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44997634
Jeremy Corbyn attacked over anti-Semitism as MP brands him ‘defender of extremism’ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16385395.jeremy-corbyn-attacked-over-anti- semitism-as-mp-brands-him-defender-of-extremism/
Second MP investigated in row over Labour's antisemitism code https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/28/labour-antisemitism-code-ian-austin-mp- faces-suspension
Labour MPs to defy leadership and vote on anti-Semitism definition http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16372973.labour-mps-to-defy-leadership-and-vote- on-anti-semitism-definition/
Lord Melvyn Bragg accuses Jeremy Corbyn of insulting Jewish people https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/lord-bragg-accuses-corbyn-of-insulting-jewish- people-r09q5hhn3
Lord Melvyn Bragg: Jeremy Corbyn's 'feebleness' on tackling anti-Semitism a 'disgrace to the Labour Party’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/07/26/lord-melvyn-bragg-jeremy-corbyns- feebleness-tackling-anti-semitism/
Margaret Hodge 'clearly misinterpreted' Labour anti-Semitism code, claims John McDonnell https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/07/25/john-mcdonnell-warned-digging-hole- claims-margaret-hodge-clearly/
Margaret Hodge stands by Jeremy Corbyn anti-Semitism accusation: 'You are judged by your actions, not your words’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/07/23/margaret-hodge-says-judged-actions- not-words-stands-jeremy-corbyn/
Margaret Hodge attacked Jeremy Corbyn over antisemitism because of 'complete misinterpretation' Labour's new rules, claims John McDonnell https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/margaret-hodge-jeremy-corbyn- antisemtisim-labour-party-john-mdonnell-mp-a8462741.html
Labour MPs and peers back internationally recognised definition of antisemitism as party row deepens https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/antisemitism-definition-labour-party- jeremy-corbyn-jewish-holocaust-uk-parliament-a8460796.html
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Labour MPs suggest their own code on antisemitism https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-24/news/labour-mps-suggest-their- own-code-on-antisemitism-wgv5grqzz
Jeremy Corbyn is ideologically trapped inside an antisemitic world view, say British Jews https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-31/news/jeremy-corbyn-is- ideologically-trapped-inside-an-antisemitic-world-view-say-british-jews-nzcnn59lz
Fife Labour councillor suspended in anti-Semitism row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45018653
Fife councillor suspended by Labour in anti-semitism row https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/fife-councillor-suspended-by-labour-in-anti- semitism-row-1-4776191
Two test cases for Labour on anti-semitism https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/leader-comment-two-test-cases-for-labour-on- anti-semitism-1-4776456
Fife Scottish Labour councillor suspended from party during anti-Semitism probe https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/fife-scottish-labour-councillor- suspended-13010553
Fife official Mary Lockhart made ‘antisemitic’ post https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/fife-official-made-antisemitic-post-c6cssxbjp
I’ve been a victim of anti-semitism, but I trust Corbyn https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/rhea-wolfson-i-ve-been-a-victim-of-anti- semitism-but-i-trust-corbyn-1-4775756
Bognor Regis councillor resigns in 'anti-Semitism’ row https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-45029812
Other racism, religious hatred, and discrimination news Street attacks on Muslims rocket in UK as perpetrators 'emboldened' by terror attacks and political rhetoric, report finds https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/attacks-muslims-uk-terror-islam- hate-crime-brexit-tell-mama-a8457996.html
More than 100 antisemitic incidents recorded in UK every month as bigots ‘become more confident’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/antisemitic-uk-figurers-racism-anti- jewish-crime-police-a8465031.html
Antisemitic hate posts allowed by Facebook https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/news/antisemitic-hate-posts- including-holocaust-denial-allowed-by-facebook-7crdvwc2x
Holocaust denial not classed as hate speech by Facebook https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/news/holocaust-denial-not-classed- as-hate-speech-by-facebook-2wtvfx7qf
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University forced to ditch ‘racist’ posters https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-07-27/news/university-forced-to-ditch- racist-posters-tqklmg8k3
'He punched me with a razorblade between his fingers': What it's like to be British, Jewish and hated https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/punched-razorblade-fingers-rise-anti- semitism-streets-britain/
Scots minister calls for tough stance on racism after boy hounded in sickening campaign of abuse https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-minister-calls-tough-stance-12980434
Mum reveals mixed-race son beaten and bullied by racist children as young as five in sickening campaign of abuse https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/mum-reveals-mixed-race-son-12969601
Polish teenager seriously injured in racist attack in Edinburgh https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/polish-teenager-seriously-injured- racist-12967242
Polish teenager seriously injured after racist gang attack in Edinburgh https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/polish-teenager-racist-attack- edinburgh-gang-scotland-hospital-a8460086.html
What can you do about racism? Call it out for a start … https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/29/what-can-you-do-about-racism-call- it-out-for-a-start
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Other Scottish Parliament and Government
Scottish Parliament Written Answers Post mortem examinations S5W-17063 Anas Sarwar (Labour): To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of deaths that were reported to a procurator fiscal were then referred to a pathologist in each of the last five years, broken down by health centre. Reply from James Wolffe QC: The following table shows the number of deaths reported to the Procurator Fiscal in the financial years 2013 to 2018 along with the number and percentage of post mortem examinations carried out as a subset of that total. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not hold information about the health centre areas however the table shows a breakdown of the figures for each of the SFIU area teams. Post Mortem Examinations Financial SFIU Death Reports Total PM as a % of total death Year Area Received examinations reports received 2013-14 EAST 3,334 1,797 54% NORTH 2,082 1,367 66% WEST 4,133 2,765 67% Total 9,549 5,929 62%
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Post Mortem Examinations Financial SFIU Death Reports Total PM as a % of total death Year Area Received examinations reports received 2014-15 EAST 3,301 1,959 59% NORTH 1,724 1,387 80% WEST 4,148 2,992 72% Total 9,173 6,338 69% 2015-16 EAST 3,298 2,120 64% NORTH 1,944 1,426 73% WEST 4,337 3,073 71% Total 9,579 6,619 69% 2016-17 EAST 3,168 1,693 53% NORTH 2,825 1,190 42% WEST 4,938 2,889 59% Total 10,931 5,772 53% 2017-18 EAST 3,124 1,730 55% NORTH 2,460 1,243 51% WEST 5,272 2,862 54% Total 10,856 5,835 54% http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5W-17063
Post mortem examinations S5W-17064 Anas Sarwar (Labour): To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of deaths recorded in each of the last five years that were referred by a procurator fiscal to a pathologist (i) involved an examination performed as a view and grant and (ii) were carried out using non-invasive scanning, also broken down by each health centre that recorded the death. Reply from James Wolffe QC: The following table shows the number of deaths reported to the Procurator Fiscal in the financial years 2013 to 2018, the number and percentage of post mortem examinations carried out along with the number and percentage of view and grant examinations as a subset of the total number of post mortem examinations. No examinations were carried out utilising solely non-invasive scanning equipment. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not hold information about the health centre areas however the table shows a breakdown of the figures for each of the SFIU area teams. (1) Subset of total PM examinations as a % of Death View and grant as a % of Financial SFIU Total PM total death Reports examinations total PM Year Area examinations reports Received (1) examinations received 2013-14 EAST 3,334 1,797 54% 230 13% NORTH 2,082 1,367 66% 319 23%
WEST 4,133 2,765 67% 319 12%
Total 9,549 5,929 62% 868 15%
2014-15 EAST 3,301 1,959 59% 257 13% NORTH 1,724 1,387 80% 309 22%
WEST 4,148 2,992 72% 410 14%
Total 9,173 6,338 69% 976 15%
2015-16 EAST 3,298 2,120 64% 321 15% NORTH 1,944 1,426 73% 312 22%
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as a % of Death View and grant as a % of Financial SFIU Total PM total death Reports examinations total PM Year Area examinations reports Received (1) examinations received WEST 4,337 3,073 71% 455 15%
Total 9,579 6,619 69% 1,088 16%
2016-17 EAST 3,168 1,693 53% 153 9% NORTH 2,825 1,190 42% 186 16%
WEST 4,938 2,889 59% 337 12%
Total 10,931 5,772 53% 676 12%
2017-18 EAST 3,124 1,730 55% 104 6% NORTH 2,460 1,243 51% 171 14%
WEST 5,272 2,862 54% 237 8%
Total 10,856 5,835 54% 512 9% http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5W-17064
Post mortem examinations S5W-17066 Anas Sarwar (Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what the average time taken was in the last five years for a death certificate to be produced where a death was (a) reported to a procurator fiscal and (b) referred to a pathologist. Reply from James Wolffe QC: This information is not held by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Where the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is being completed by the reporting doctor the MCCD should be issued without unnecessary delay and ,where applicable, within the timescale specified in section 24 of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965. Where COPFS instruct a pathologist the MCCD will be issued by the pathologist upon completion of the post mortem examination. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5W-17066
Post mortem examinations S5W-17069 Anas Sarwar (Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is appropriate availability of equipment and staff to roll out a scanning facility for post mortems in each health centre. Reply from James Wolffe QC: No forensic pathologists in Scotland utilise solely MRI or CT scanning for the purpose of carrying out post mortem examinations on behalf of the procurator fiscal. A research project is ongoing in Lothian, funded by Lothian Health Board for radiology research purposes, in which scanning is undertaken as an adjunct to full post mortem examination. There are no facilities elsewhere in Scotland which make provision for MRI or CT scanning in the context of post mortem examination. MRI and CT scanners are located within NHS facilities. They are operated by radiographers and the scans are interpreted by radiologists who are NHS staff, and not by pathologists. It is understood that these scanners are operating to capacity in examinations on living patients. Were it to be considered appropriate to use scanning for the purpose of post mortem examinations in death investigations in Scotland, this would require the provision of additional resources by way of equipment and staff. I am advised that the efficacy of scanning as a means of undertaking post mortem examination is a matter of debate amongst professional pathologists in Scotland, and that many pathologists take the view that scanning would only be a suitable means of establishing the cause of death in cases where pathologists currently undertake non-invasive view and grant examinations.
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A view and grant examination is a non-invasive process, consisting of a careful and detailed examination of the body and consideration of the medical records. The procurator fiscal will always consider whether a view and grant examination would be sufficient. However, it is a matter for the pathologist, who has a professional responsibility to certify the cause of the death, and to do so in a manner which can, if necessary, be professionally justified, whether a view and grant examination will suffice. http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&R eferenceNumbers=S5W-17069
Press Releases Scotland’s population 2017 https://news.gov.scot/news/scotlands-population-2017
Public tickets announced for international culture summit http://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/109212.aspx
New Publications Scotland's Population The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends 2017 https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/rgar/2017/rgar17.pdf
Scotland's Population 2017 Infographic report https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/nrs-visual/rgar-2017/rgar-2017-infographic- booklet.pdf
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Other UK Parliament and Government
UK Parliament, House of Commons Written Answer BAME Blood, Stem Cell and Organ Donors Eleanor Smith (Labour): What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of BAME blood, stem cell and organ donors throughout England. [906610] Reply from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Jackie Doyle-Price): We urgently need more black, Asian and minority ethnic donors to save lives through the gift of organ donation. That is a priority for the Government. Last week, I launched a national campaign to address myths and barriers and bring attention to the life-saving power of organ donation. It is crucial that these messages be properly tailored to enable everyone to participate. Eleanor Smith: In 2017-18, only 1 33 people from the BAME community in this country donated an organ. While they are still living, BAME people make up a third of the people on transplant waiting lists and have to wait over a year longer than white patients. I know that the Government announced a new campaign, following NHS Blood and Transplant’s annual report on organ donation, within the BAME community, but it fails to address many of the recommendations in my report “Ending the Silent Crisis”, published in June. I sent a copy to the Minister, along with a request for a meeting, but I have yet to receive a response. Will she agree to meet me after the recess to discuss the recommendations in my review?
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Reply from Jackie Doyle-Price: I am sorry the hon. Lady has not received a response, because I instructed my office to say I would agree to meet her. I commend her work in this area, because it is very important that we tackle this injustice. Central to that is reaching out to those communities and engaging with them in a way that inspires them. We have found in our work over the last year that there is a sense of distrust among some minority ethnic communities towards health providers. I will be bringing out some tools in the autumn and would encourage all Members to reach out to their minority ethnic communities to tackle the fact that, as she says, a third of people on transplant waiting lists are from black and Asian communities and that we need more donors. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-24/debates/0350569E-EEC0-4E22- B7CF-A84FA56195D9/BAMEBloodStemCellAndOrganDonors
The report referred to above can be read at http://www.nbta-uk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/BAME-Donation-review-29.5.18.pdf
UK Parliament, House of Lords Written Answer Female Genital Mutilation Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) [HL9411] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) prosecutions, and (2) convictions, for female genital mutilation there have been since it was criminalised in 1985; and in each case, what sentences were imposed by the courts. Reply from Lord Keen of Elie: Up until 31 December 2017, there have been two prosecutions (one in 2014, one in 2016) and no convictions for female genital mutilation under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. Data for 2018 will be published in May 2019. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-11/HL9411/
Press Release Travel and health advice for Hajj pilgrims https://www.gov.uk/government/news/travel-and-health-advice-for-hajj-pilgrims
News Forced marriage: 'More needs to be done', says Sajid Javid https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45068360
Sajid Javid pledges to do more to tackle ‘despicable’ forced marriages http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16398597.sajid-javid-pledges-to-do-more-to-tackle- despicable-forced-marriages/
Sajid Javid pledges to crack down on forced marriages in the United Kingdom https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/forced-marriages-sajid-javid-visas-home- office-a8476916.html
Forced marriage: Sajid Javid launches urgent inquiry https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-03/news/forced-marriage- investigation-women-with-disabilities-raped-by-visa-cheats-qvckt8mr6
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New Publications Scottish Charity Regulator Annual Review 2017-2018 https://www.oscr.org.uk/media/3217/annual-review-2017-18.pdf
Youth mobilisations of ‘suspect communities’ UK http://www.promise.manchester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Youth-mobilisations-of- %E2%80%98suspect-communities%E2%80%99.pdf
Faith in Equality: Religion and Belief in Europe Report http://www.equineteurope.org/IMG/pdf/wg_religion_report_final_web.pdf
Infographic http://www.equineteurope.org/IMG/pdf/faith_in_equality__religion_belief_in_europe_i nfographic.pdf
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Other News 13% rise in charity registrations - OSCR’s Annual Review 2017-18 https://www.oscr.org.uk/news/13-rise-in-charity-registrations-oscr-s-annual-review-2017-18
OSCR considers charging charities to fund revenue shortfall http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/oscr-considers-charging-charities-to-fund-revenue-shortfall
English law applies to Islamic marriage, judge rules in divorce case https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/aug/01/english-law-applies-to-islamic-marriage- judge-rules-in-divorce-case
British court recognises sharia law in landmark divorce case https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/01/british-court-recognises-sharia-law- landmark-divorce-case/
Muslim women 'given hope' by High Court ruling that sharia marriages can be covered by English law https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sharia-marriages-nikah-ceremony- divorce-women-island-high-court-english-law-a8475141.html
Sharia wedding ceremony ruled void as English law marriage https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sharia-wedding-ceremony-ruled-void-as-english-law- marriage-lnlrwn5hq
Other News: Forced marriage UK accused of turning blind eye to forced marriages to grant visas https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/02/uk-accused-of-turning-blind-eye-to- forced-marriages-to-grant-visas
Visas 'given to foreign husbands in forced marriages’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/02/visas-given-foreign-husbands-forced-marriages/
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Forced marriage: Police ‘turn a blind eye’ to child brides https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/news/police-turn-a-blind-eye-to- child-brides-vw7hfvppl
Forced marriage: Stirring solution to help save girls https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/news/forced-marriage-stirring- solution-to-help-save-girls-n8vjp7r6r
Forced marriage: Officer asked if Iraqi man could date a 12-year-old https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-04/news/forced-marriage-officer- asked-if-iraqi-man-could-date-a-12-year-old-3ngwf9cm2
Forced marriage: Woman with mental age of seven forced into marriage three times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-03/news/forced-marriage-woman-with- mental-age-of-seven-forced-into-marriage-three-times-jfgfrkwts
Forced marriage: Beaten and raped after wedding to cousin https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-03/news/forced-marriage-beaten-and- raped-after-wedding-to-cousin-b5fpnvwl2
Forced marriage: How mother ‘gave away illiterate girl for gold’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-03/news/forced-marriage-how-mother- gave-away-illiterate-girl-for-gold-k9t72zk8l
Forced marriage: Relationships would not be tolerated, judge warned https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-03/news/forced-marriage- relationships-would-not-be-tolerated-judge-warned-t3wjgxhgn
Forced marriage: dressed up like a doll and flown abroad at 15 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage- investigation-dressed-up-like-a-doll-and-flown-abroad-at-15-hwp2mzk90
Lawyer Asama Javed is ‘fixer for forced marriage’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/times-forced-marriage- investigation-lawyer-asama-javed-is-fixer-for-forced-marriage-83knvvr08
Forced marriage: What immigration solicitor Asama Javed told our undercover reporter https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage-what- immigration-solicitor-asama-javed-told-our-undercover-reporter-mg88h7bs2
Forced marriage: Labour MP ‘was tricked into helping husband’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage-labour-mp- was-tricked-into-helping-husband-gncdczcdv
Forced marriage: draped in jewellery for fake wedding pictures https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage- investigation-draped-in-jewellery-for-fake-wedding-pictures-jklf5zncs
Forced marriage: Jailed father said he would ‘chop her up in 18 seconds’ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage-jailed-father- said-he-would-chop-her-up-in-18-seconds-pr8mkj8fm
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Forced marriage: Terrified teenager kept like a house slave https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage-terrified- teenager-kept-like-a-house-slave-3wvzfr06g
Forced marriages: the visa tricks https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriages-the-visa- tricks-h37vlrtdn
Forced marriage: Threatened by brother if she refused to back visa https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-02/news/forced-marriage-threatened- by-brother-if-she-refused-to-back-visa-j82zzhnlf
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Bills in Progress ** new or updated this week Scottish Parliament Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/108681.aspx
Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/108702.aspx
UK Parliament Immigration Control (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017- 19/immigrationcontrolgrosshumanrightsabuses.html
Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017- 19/childrenact1989amendmentfemalegenitalmutilation.html
House of Lords briefing http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2018-0083/LLN-2018- 0083.pdf
Second Reading, House of Lords https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-07-20/debates/DFDB9E26-055F-4B93-8098- F854EDB3F1FD/ChildrenAct1989(Amendment)(FemaleGenitalMutilation)Bill(HL)
EEA Nationals (Indefinite Leave to Remain) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/eeanationalsindefiniteleavetoremain.html
Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) Bill https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/holocaustreturnofculturalobjectsamendment.html
Human Trafficking (Child Protection) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/humantraffickingchildprotection.html
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Immigration Control (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/humantraffickingchildprotection.html
Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017- 19/modernslaverytransparencyinsupplychains.html
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/modernslaveryvictimsupport.html
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/refugeesfamilyreunionbill.html
Refugees (Family Reunion) (No. 2) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/refugeesfamilyreunionno2.html
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (Legal Advice and Appeals) Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017- 19/unaccompaniedasylumseekingchildrenlegaladviceandappeals.html
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Consultations ** new or updated this week ** closes next week! Funeral Expense Assistance Regulations (closing date 23 August 2018) https://consult.gov.scot/social-security/funeral-expense-assistance/
Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill (closing date 29 August 2018) http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/109036.aspx
Financial Memorandum of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill (closing date 31 August 2018) http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/109042.aspx
Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill (closing date 4 September 2018) http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/108999.aspx
** Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families (closing date 5 September 2018) https://consult.gov.scot/children-and-families/supporting-disabled-children/
** Immigration detention (closing date 7 September 2018) https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/human- rights-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/inquiry10/
Modern Slavery (closing date 7 September 2018) https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home- affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/modern-slavery-launch-17-19/
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20 years of the Human Rights Act (closing date 14 September 2018) https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/human- rights-committee/news-parliament-2017/20-years-human-rights-act-launch-17-19/
A Culture Strategy for Scotland (closing date 19 September 2018) https://consult.gov.scot/culture-tourism-and-major-events/culture-strategy/
Windrush compensation scheme (closing date 11 October 2018) https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/windrush-compensation-scheme
Police Scotland: Your view counts (open all year) http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/decision-making/public-consultation/local-policing- consultation
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Job Opportunities Click here to find out about job opportunities.
Click here to find out about Graduate, Modern, and Foundation Apprenticeship opportunities.
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Funding Opportunities ** new or updated this week Year of Young People There is no closing date – the fund will remain open until all money has been distributed. Year of Young People 2018 celebrates everything that makes Scotland’s young people incredible. As a nation proud of our young people, the Year of Young People puts the spotlight on the contributions and achievements of eight to 26 year olds, while giving them a stronger voice on issues that matter to them, and aims to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contribution to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally and on a global- stage. BEMIS Scotland, in collaboration with the Scottish Government, is providing grants of between £250 and £1,000 for constituted charitable and non-profit organisations, and community groups. For full information see http://bemis.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/yoyp-grant- guidelines.pdf and to apply see http://bemis.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/yoyp- application-form.docx
Scotland’s Winter Festivals, and St Andew’s Fair Saturday There is no closing date – the fund will remain open until all money has been distributed. Scotland’s Winter Festivals aim to mobilise the people of Scotland and those with an affinity to Scotland to join in the St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay, and Burns celebrations, boosting Scotland’s key tourism and events sectors and the wider economy, enhancing community engagement and raising Scotland’s international profile. Our diverse ethnic and cultural minority communities are key elements of Scotland’s past, present and future so we want to ensure that your story, history, and narrative plays a full part in Scotland’s Winter Festivals. BEMIS Scotland, in collaboration with the Scottish Government, is providing grants of between £250 and £1,000 for constituted charitable and non-profit organisations, and
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community groups. For full information see http://bemis.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/swf-2018- guidelines.pdf and to apply see http://bemis.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/swf- 2018-application-form.docx
Democracy Matters Community Engagement Fund Closing date for applictations: 14 September 2018 The Scottish Government Democracy Matters Community Engagement Fund provides grants of up to £300 (in exceptional circumstances up to £500) to small voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland to help them run an event with a group of five or more people to discuss what matters to them in relation to democracy. Groups and voluntary organisations with a turnover of up to £100,000 can apply for a grant to run an event and cover costs such as venue hire, catering, childcare and inclusive communication such as interpreters. For full information and to apply see https://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/funding-and- support/democracy-matters-community-engagement-fund or contact [email protected]
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Events, Conferences, and Training ** new or updated this week ** this week! Organising for Power 10 to 12 August 2018 in Fife 14 to 16 September – venue tba Training weekends for those tackling the root causes of xenophobia and racism and promoting the rights of migrants/refugees/ asylum seeking people in Scotland to learn how to have a bigger impact and plan campaigns that win. For information see https://tinyurl.com/yb8usv6h or contact [email protected]
** Let’s talk about inclusion 25 August 2018 in Kirkcaldy (10.30-1.00) This is the first of a series of meetings arranged by Fife Centre for Equalities that gives people the opportunity to come together to create a collective voice and begin to look at ways we as a community can reduce the barriers that affect people. For information see https://tinyurl.com/yb2duyqo or contact 01592 645 310 / [email protected]
Meet the Scottish Charity Regulator 28 August 2018 in Edinburgh (1.15-4.00) 25 September 2018 in Motherwell (1.15-4.00) 3 October 2018 in Oban (9.45-12.30) Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) events to give charity trustees and staff the opportunity to hear about latest developments, meet OSCR staff and ask questions. Topics will include the role of the charity trustee, and guidance on safeguarding. For information and to book see https://www.oscr.org.uk/news/meet-the-scottish-charity- regulator
Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitative Employment Practices followed by Hate Crime Reporting 28 August 2018 in Falkirk (10.00-12.00) CSREC session to increase awareness of the signs of trafficking, reporting procedures, and Dos and Don’ts in reporting and working with victims, followed by a session about reporting of Hate Crime. For information see https://trafficking-falkirk.eventbrite.co.uk
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LGBTI Intersectionality 30 August 2018 in Stirling (9.30-12.30) CSREC training for service providers about the provision of services for LGBTI people who are also from minority ethnic backgrounds or disabled. For information see https://stirling-intersectionality.eventbrite.co.uk
Future Leaders Diversity Conference 4-6 September 2018 in Edinburgh Conference for graduates and potential graduates who are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, or socially or economically disadvantaged. The conference will provide an insight into life in the modern Civil Service, and a chance to share life experiences and views with current and future leaders, and helps prepare participants to apply for a place on the graduate leadership programme. For information see https://graduates.work-for- scotland.org/future-leaders-diversity-conference/
Talking to Young People about Equality 6 September 2018 in Kirkcaldy (6.00-9.00) Fife Centre for Equalities, and Youth 1st workshop to help youth workers begin a dialogue about equality with young people, and to understand that good knowledge of equality and inclusion will improve their employability. For information see https://tinyurl.com/yceyr6at
Equality Conference 7 September 2018 in Kirkcaldy (10.00-2.00) Fife Centre for Equalities conference for young Fifers who want to take the lead in challenging discrimination in all its forms. For information see https://centreforequalities.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DW18-YOYP-Conference- A4.pdf
Culture - Religious Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Training 12-13 September 2018 in Glasgow (9.00-4.30) Two day training to address diversity and discrimination issues related to religion and belief and increase skills in order to help create a more inclusive diverse environment For information contact Farkhanda Chaudhry 0141 577 8454 / 07950 008 859 / [email protected]
Mainstreaming Anti-Sectarianism in Equalities Toolkit 13 September 2018 in Glasgow (9.30-1.00) 4 October in Edinburgh (1.00-4.30) 15 November 2018 in Glasgow (1.00-4.30) WSREC training for public / third sector organisations, students and individuals interested in unravelling the meaning of sectarianism as an 'equalities' issue and its impact on the wellbeing, safety and opportunities of those affected, and on society as a whole. For information and to book for 13 Sept see https://tinyurl.com/ydh74vrg, for 4 Oct see https://tinyurl.com/y9muw7pm, and for 15 Nov see https://tinyurl.com/y7cmj54e. Other venues may be available by request – for information contact [email protected]
Common Cause Networks 17 October 2018 in Glasgow (2.00-6.00) Runnymede Trust support network for Black and Minority-Ethnic individuals and groups (and/or for People of Colour) actively leading and developing their own projects and ideas, or founding their own organisations. For information contact [email protected] / 0207 377 9222 or see https://tinyurl.com/y7os4lyu
** Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitative Employment Practices Session 23 October 2018 in Stirling (9.30-11.30)
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CSREC awareness session to cover what the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority does, the signs of trafficking, procedures for reporting, and dos and don’ts in reporting and working with victims. There will also be a session on Hate Crime Reporting. For information see https://tinyurl.com/y7jux6a3
** Multicultural Football Festival 27 October 2018 in Glasgow (10.00-4.00) SFA and BEMIS festival bringing together teams from across Scotland celebrating diversity and inclusion across the country. The 2018 event will support the Year of Young People 2018 and celebrate the contribution of young people within Football. Open to Men’s, Women’s, Youth and Junior teams. For information see http://bemis.org.uk/event/multi-cultural-football-cup/
Scottish Interfaith Week 11-18 November 2018 Scottish Interfaith Week provides an opportunity for interfaith groups, faith communities, schools, organisations and local communities across the country to celebrate Scotland’s religious diversity. For information see http://scottishinterfaithweek.org/
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Useful Links Scottish Parliament http://www.parliament.scot/
Scottish Government http://www.gov.scot/
UK Parliament http://www.parliament.uk/
GovUK (links to UK Government Departments) https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
UK Government Honours system https://www.gov.uk/honours/overview
European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/
One Scotland http://onescotland.org/
Scottish Refugee Council http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Interfaith Scotland http://www.interfaithscotland.org/
Equality and Human Rights Commission http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
Equality Advisory Support Service http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com
Scottish Human Rights Commission http://scottishhumanrights.com/
ACAS www.acas.org.uk
SCVO http://www.scvo.org.uk/
Volunteer Development Scotland http://www.volunteerscotland.net/
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) http://www.oscr.org.uk/
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Scottish Fundraising Standards Panel https://www.goodfundraising.scot/
Central Registered Body for Scotland (CRBS) www.volunteerscotland.net/disclosure-services
Disclosure Scotland https://www.mygov.scot/working-jobs/finding-a-job/disclosure/
BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
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The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) is the representative body of all the Jewish communities in Scotland. It advances public understanding about the Jewish religion, culture and community, and also works in partnership with other organisations to promote good relations and understanding among community groups and to promote equality. (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC029438) http://www.scojec.org/
BEMIS is the Scottish national Ethnic Minorities led umbrella body, supporting, empowering, and building the capacity of minority third sector community organisations. As a strategic partner with Government, it is proactive in influencing the development of race equality policy in Scotland, and helps develop and progress multicultural Scotland, active citizenship, democracy, and Human Rights Education at the Scottish, UK, and European levels. (Scottish Charity, no. SC027692) http://www.bemis.org.uk/
The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and social justice for all those who live in Scotland. One Scotland is the Scottish Government campaign designed to tackle racism. It aims to raise awareness of racist attitudes, highlight its negative impact and recognise the valuable contributions that other cultures have made to our society – and make Scotland no place for racism. http://www.gov.scot/
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